Combined vaporizer and mixer.



I9 6 Patented May 29, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

l. WALTER, H. l. BUTTERWORTH & O. J. SIGLER.

COMBINED VAPQHIZEH AND MIXER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1915.

PatntedMay 29, 1917.

4 SHEET$-SHEET 2.

J. WALTER, H. J. BUTTERWORTH & 0.1. SIGLER.

COMBINED VAPORIZER AND MIXER.

APPLICATIDN FILED MAY 10. 1916.

1 ,228,082. Patented May 29, 1917.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Wblmm fQ/ @1644 3 M L WALTER, H. .I. BUTTERWORTH &0. J. SIGLER.

COMBINED'VAPORIZER AND MIXER.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY I0, 1916. 1,228,082. Patented May 29, 1917.

w. a w I w my 7 0.021 0U a 3 6 3 M2 0 a 0 0 4 o o 1 a 0 0 0 O u w 6 0 00 0 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 m. o o o o 0 O 0 O I O O O O Q 0 0 900 0 0 0 OO 0 O 0 Q .0 O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB WALTER, HARRY J. BUTTERWOBTH, AND OSCA R J. SIGLER, OF MANSFIELD,OHIO, ASSIGNOBS OI ONE-FIFTH T0 CHARLES M. ROWLAND, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO.

COMBINED VAPORIZEB AND MIXER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1917.

Application filed May 10, 1916. Serial No. 96,732.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JACOB WALTER, HARRY J. Bu'rmnwonrn, and OSCAR J.SIG- LER, citizens of the United States of America, residing atMansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Combined Vaporizers and Mixers,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined vaporizer and mixer for use in theoperation of internal combustion engines.

The primary object of this invention comprises means for vaporizingliquid hydrocarbon fuels and saturating or mixing atmospheric air withthe volatile constitutents thereof, thereby maintaining the normalspecific gravity of the charge by admitting the charge to the cylinderat atmospheric temperature.

A further object of this invention is to afi'ord facilities forvaporizing liquid hydrocarbon fuel for starting internal combustionengines and to provide means for continually thereafter vaporizing saidhydrocarbon liquid fuel through the medium of the exhaust gases of theengine.

Another object of this invention is to afford means for automaticallycontrolling the supply of liquid hydrocarbon fuel and atmospheric airfor charging the cylinders with an explosive mixture, the quantitydelivered to the cylinders being governed by the speed of the engine,and the means being automatically operable by the suction created by theistons of the engine through the medium 0 the air valve to increase ordecrease the supply of the explosive mixture as the speed of the enginevaries.

Other objects of the invention are to combine ir. a self-containeddevice, a vaporizer, a mixer and a silencer and construct it in a simpleand efiicient manner to perform the objects set out with a minimumnumber of parts.

These and other objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a conventional form of motor showing theinvention connected to the intake and exhaust manifolds.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the 1nve11tion showing the mainsupply needle valves and air valve closed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of one of the supply valves showingthe inclined bores, valves and valve mechanism.

Fig. 4, a side elevation of the invention showing a supply pipeconnected to the valves and means of operating the auxiliary valve andclosing the circuit of the electrical heater that vaporizes the fuel preparatory to starting the engine.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the invention taken on the line BBof Fig. 4 showing the electrical heater and vertically sectional view ofthe auxiliary supply valve.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the air valve on the line AA of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 2, partly in section showing a series ofperforations provided in a pre-determined portion of a drum.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 2 taken on the line CC of Fig.2, the connection between the lever link bars and the valve link beingomitted for the sake of clearness.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 rep resents a conventional type ofan internal combustion motor, 2 the intake manifold, 3 the exhaustmanifold and 4 the engine feed plpe.

The preferable specific means employed in constructing the combinedvaporizer and mixer is as follows:

A vaporizer 5, preferably made tubular in form is provided, having bothends exteriorly threaded, and a predetermined portion of the vaporizer 5is cut away leaving an opening at the top, which opening is covered andsecurely closed by a depending copper plate 6, having a concave uppersurface, -(see Fig. 5). The plate is secured to the vaporizer by anywell known fastening means.

A cylinder head 7, is mounted upon the vaporizer and adjustablyositioned thereon by the nut 8. The cylin er head 7 is provided with anannular groove 9, which is located in spaced .and concentric relation tothe vaporizer. The head 7 is also provided adjacent to its peripherywith an an-' nular shoulder 11 to engage one end of a cylinder 12. Acylinder head 13 is mounted upon the vaporizer in spaced relation fromfitted to the coincident groove and shoulder formed in the cylinder head13. The nut 15 is then tightened forcing the cylinderheads to clamp thecylinder and drum therebetween providing a chamber 10, which surroundsthe vaporizer and a chamber 16, which surrounds the drum.

The drum 14 is formed in its upper portion with perforations 62 throughwhich the vaporized liquid hydro-carbon fuel is permitted to pass, aswill be hereinafter noted; the said drum-being also formed in its lowerportion with openings 14' to per,- mit escape of liquid fuel in theevent of such .accumulating in the lower portion of the drum.

It will be observed that the arrangements above described provideconcentric chambers in spaced relation to the vaporizer.

The cylinder 12 is connected to the feed pipe 4 of the engine by acentrally arranged upstanding flanged tubular member 17, whichcommunicates with the chamber 16. A tubular member 18, which forms achamber for the air valve is provided upon the cylinder at one end, andit is in communication with the chamber 16. The tubular member 18 ispositioned to depend from one end of the cylinder, depending in adirectubular member 17. The exhaust mani 3 is connected to one end ofthe vaporizer by a connecting pipe 19 and coupling 20.

To provide means of deadening or 'muffling the sound or noise of theexhaust gases, a series of inclined bafiie plates 21 are fitted inspaced relation to the inner periphery of the va orizer so as to leaveclearance spaces 22 an 23.

In supplying liquid hydrocarbon fuel to the vaporizer, one or more mainsupply "alves can be used as desired. In the preferred construction asshown in the drawing two main supply valves are used, which are appliedto the "aporizer and constructed as follows:

1 The cylinder and drum are provided with alined apertures to receivethe valve casings 24 and 25 and they are secured therein, with one andprojecting .into the chamber 10.

tion opposed to the upstanding flanfgelag.

The automatic fuel supply valves are constructed and o erated asfollowsz The casing is provide with. a bore a and a valve b is insertedtherein, having a valve stem 0. A disk (1 is secured or formed thereonto fit the bore a. The valve stem carries another disk e that fits thebore and provides a rest for the coil spring f, which normallymaintainsthe valve upon its seat. An aperture 9 is formed in the valve casingintersecting with an aperture 7:. that communicates with a valve opening5. A series of inclined bores j are formed around the valve in coneshape, one end of the bores communicating with the bore a and the otherends radiating and opening into the chamber 10, which has the effect ofradially spraying the fuel upon the vaporizer. The valve stems areslidably fitted inapertures formed in plugs 33 and, 34, therebymaintaining the stem in alinement at all times in conjunction with thedisks hereinbefore described.-

The needle valves are guided and maintamed in alinement with theirrespective seats by the disk members 11 and e, which are secured tothe.- valve stem. The open ends of the casings are closed by the screwthreaded plugs 33 and 34. The cylinder head 7 is provided with aninwardly extendin ear 35 and lever link bars 36 are pivotal attachedthereto.

The ever link bars extend rearwardly from theirpivoted connectionpassing through slots provided in the main valve casings, and their freeends are pivotally attached to a link 37, preferably in the form of aring which spans the drum. The link is also secured to a stem 38 of anair valve 39, which is normally maintained closed or in contact with itsseat 40 by a coil spring "41, which is interposed between the washer 42and the spider 43 provided on the tubular member 18. The main supplyvalves 29 and 30 are connected to the lever link bars 36 by the pins 44and 45 and a slot 46 is formed in the stem of the valve 30 to permit thevalve 29 to be fully opened before movement is imparted to the valve 30by the lever link bar.

The essential elements of the vaporizer, arrangements and combinationsthereof,

hereinbefore described are common to thense and construction of thevaporizer and mixer when the engine is being operated after starting,but does not include the means of starting the engine which will now bedescribed.

An electric heater 47 is mounted upon the plate 6 and connected to abattery by the wires 48, the circuit, however, is normally interruptedand the current is not conducted to the heater except under certainconditions which will be described hereafter. An auxiliary valve casin49 is fitted to alined apertures formed in t e cylinder and drum so asto leave one end projecting above the cylinder and the other endprojecting. into the chamber 10. The end of the valve casing is closedor plugged and an opening 50 formed therein having a valve seat formedon its open end.

An auxiliary needle valve 51 having a stem smaller in diameter than theinner periphery of the valve casing normally maintains the valve inclosed position and it is held in alinement with the valve seat duringits reciprocation by a cap 53, having an aperture to receive the valvestem, and having threaded connection with the casing 49. The auxiliaryvalve casing 49 is formed at an appropriate point with an aperture 52 toestablish communication between the interior of the casing and thesupply pipe 60, the needle valve 51 being reduced in diameter coincidentwith such openings to insure the proper admission of the fuel at thispoint.

A bracket 54 is secured to the top of the cylinder and a bell crank 55is pivotally secured thereto. The bell crank is pivotally connected tothe bifurcated end of the valve stem and to one end of a connecting rod56, and the opposite end of the link connecting bar is mounted forreciprocation at any convenient point. A bracket 57 is secured to thetop of the cylinder and located in close proximity to the valve casing49.

A contact 58 having a downwardly projecting end is secured to thebracket in alinement with a spaced apart yielding contact 59, and bothcontacts extend over the top of the valve stem. When movement isimparted to the valve stem to open the valve, the top of the valve stemcontacts with the yielding contact 59 and forces it to contact with thecontact 58 closing the circuit to the heater 47 and heating the heaterfor the purpose of vaporizing the liquid hydrocarbon fuel as it ispermltted to flow through the jet 50 of the auxiliary valve. Referencenumeral 60 indicates a supply pipe that is connected to the main supplyvalve casings and the auxiliary valve casing, and reference numeral 61indicates a butterfly throttle valve of the ordinary type.

The above describes the preferable specific construction and arrangementof the parts used in carrying out the principles of the invention. ItWlll be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art, that changes andalterations can be made in the specific means described withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention.

The operation of vaporizing the liquid hydrocarbon fuel and mixing andsaturating it with air at atmospheric temperature will now be described.

Kerosene oil or any other kind or variety of liquid hydrocarbon fuel isconducted by gravity or otherwise from any convenient source-of supplythrough the suppl pi 60 which is in communication with t e c ambers ofthe main supply valve casings 24 and 25, and the chamber of theauxiliary valve casing 49 to maintain the chambers of the abovedescribed casings filled with the liquid hydrocarbon fuel.

When it is desired to start the engine or motor, the operator pulls theconnecting rod 56, lmparting movement to the bell crank 55, which inturn raises the valve stem of the auxiliary valve until it contacts withthe yielding contact 59 and forces it in contact wlth the contact 58closin the circuit and conducting the current to t e heater to heat samefor vaporizin purposes, simultaneous with the raising o the valve stemof the auxiliary valve for the purpose of closing the circuit to theheater, the auxiliary valve 51 is opened permitting the liquidhydrocarbon fuel to pass out through the valve openings in the supplyvalve casings and drop or flow upon the heater 47, which vaporizes theliquid hydrocarbon, the volatlle constituents thereof, passing outthrough the perforations 62 formed in the drum 14 into the cold airchamber 16, where it mixes with and saturates the air to form anexplosive mixture at atmospheric temperature prior to being conductedthrough the feed pipe 4 and intake manifold 2 to the cylinders of themotor by the suction created by the pistons.

Attention is called to the fact that when the motor is turned overpreparatory to starting that the suction created by the pistons raisesthe air valve 39 and permits the air to be drawn by the suction of thepistons into the chamber of the tubular member 18, thence into thechamber 16, which communicates therewith and surrounds the drum 14. Asthe liquid hydrocarbon fuel is being vaporized by the heater 47, thevolatile constituents thereof rise and pass out through the perforations62 into the chamber 16.

The volume of the volatile constituents of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel,as it is being vaporized, is forced to pass through the perforations 62formed in the drum 14 to break up or atomize it to further assist inmixing the vapors with the atmospheric air.

It is apparent, however, that the explosive mixture can be formedwithout forcing the volatile constituents of the liquid hydrocarbon fuelto pass through a series of perforations.

The above describes the method and means of starting the motor, theoperation of the motor after it is started will now be described.

lVhen the motor is started, the auxiliary valve 51 is permitted to seat,thereby cuttin same time theconnection between contacts 58 and 59'isbroken or interrupted breaking the circuit, thereby prevent" the currentfrom heating the heater 47, A v r the motor starts, the exhaust gasesfrom the motor are discharged. into the chamber A of the vaporizer 5,thereby constantly maintainingthe late 6 in a heated state.

- e suction created by the pistons of the motor automatically raisesthe' air valve 89 from its seat permitting air at atmospherictemperature to be drawn into the chamber 16 and around the drum 14, andsimultan v ously with the raising of the air valve fro its seat the mainsupply valves 29 and 30 are opened permitting e liquid hydrocarbon fuelto flow into the valve openings and out through the inclined bores j,spraying the liquid hydrocarbon fuel upon the vaporizing plate 6.

As the speed of the e 'ne varies, the air valve is'opened more or ess bthe suction of the pistons of the motor w ich simultaneously operatesthe mechanism connected to the main supply valves allowing a suflicientamount of liquid hydrocarbon fuel to pass through the main supplyvalves, and to be sprayed upon the vaporizing plate to equalize and feedfuel in re r proportion to the air admitted througl i th: air valve,thereby providing means of automatically governmg the amount of hdrocarbon fuel and air admitted to the cy inders at atmospherictemperature to form or provide a proper explosive mixture. The exhaustare baflled and the sound muflied or sll' enced-b the bafile lates 21,which are arr within the interior of the vaporizer so as'to leaveclearance spaces for the escape of the exhaust ses'into the atmo here.

Attention is called to the fact that the proper mixture of the vaporizedvolatile constituents of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel and air atatmospherlc temperature is constantly and automatically maintainedthereby providing a pro er explosive mixture by the suction create bythe pistons operating'upon the air valve 39. When the speed increases aricher charge is drawn into the cylinder and when the speed decreases athinner mixtureis drawn into the c linder, thereb automaticallyregulating the .supply o the explosive mixture for char g the cylindersaccording to the speed 0 the motor or power required. This richness ofthe mixture is obvious from the fact that the valve 39, which iscontrolled solel by the suction of the cylinders, will, un ercornparatively light suction, as when the engine is operated at lowspeed influence but one of the fuel inlet valves, while under greatersuction the additional inlet valve will be operated to increase the fuelsupply. Therefore the position of the valve 39, which POSI- tion iscontrolled by the speed of the engine or the power required, governs theinlet gasolenes,

1. In a combined vaporizer and mixer for internal combustion engines, avaporizer, a

drum having imperforate side walls and provided at the top withperforations which permit the escape of the volatile constituents of thevaporized hydrocarbon to mix with air at atmospheric temperature, acylinder surrounding said drum, means to conduct of the engine, andmeans operpermit the escape of the volatile constituents of thevaporized hydrocarbon to mix with air at atmospheric temperature, acylinder surrounding said drum, meansto conduct liquid hydrocarbon fuelto the vaporizer, means for heating the vaporizer by the exhaust gasesof the motor, means to mix air at atmospheric temperature with thevolatile constituents of li uid hydrocarbon fuel, and auxiliary means orvaporizing hydrocarbon fuel reparatory to starting the motor.

3. n a combined vaporizer and mixer for internal combustion motors, avaporizer having-a portion cut away, a plate secured to the vaporizer toclose said opening, a drum provided with a plurality of perforationsspaced apart from the vaporizer and arranged in concentric relationthereto to form a chamber, a cylinder arranged to surround saidvaporizer to form a chamber, means to conduct liquid hydrocarbon to thevaporizer and means operable by the suction of the pistons of the motorto supply atmospheric air to one of the chambers to mix with thevolatile constituents of the vaporized liquid hydrocarbon fuel flowingfrom the other chamber.

4. In a combined vaporizer and mixer for internal combustion motors, atubular vaporizer, cylinder heads mounted upon the vaporizer, a cylinderand a drum held and maintained by said heads in concentric relation tothe vaporizer to provide chambers, a

heater mounted upon the vaporizer, means to close and interrupt thecircuit that conducts an electrical current to said heater to heat same;said means also operatin an auxiliary valve to permit the flow 0 theliquid hydrocarbon fuel to the vaporizer, and means to utilize theexhaust gases of the engine to heat the vaporizer.

5. In a combined vaporizer and mixer for internal combustion motors, atubular vaporizer, cylinder heads mounted upon the vaporizer, a cylinderand a drum held and maintained by said head in concentric relation tothe vaporizer to provide chambers, a heater mounted upon the vaporizer,means to close and interrupt the circuit that conducts an electricalcurrent to said heater to heat same; said means also operating anauxiliary valve to ermit the flow of the liquid hydrocarbon uel to theheater, means to conduct the flow of liquid hydrocarbon fuel to thevaporizer, means to utilize the exhaust gases of the engine to heat thevaporizer, and means to baflle the exhaust gases in their va orizingarea.

6. In a device or vaporizing and mixing liquid hydrocarbon fuel for usein internal combustion engines, a vaporizer heated by exhaust gases,cylinder heads mounted upon said vaporizer, a cylinder and a drumclamped and maintained in concentric relation to said vaporizer by saidcylinder heads to provide chambers, means automatically operable by thesuction of the engine to admit atmospheric air to one of the chambersand to conduct liquid hydrocarbon fuel to the vaporizer, whereby the airat atmospheric temperature is caused to mix with the liquid hydrocarbonfuel after vaporization to form an explosive mixture.

7. In a device for vaporizing and mixing liquid hydrocarbon fuel for usein internal combustion engines, a vaporizer heated by exhaust gases,cylinder heads mounted upon said vaporizer, a cylinder and a drumclamped and maintained in concentric relation to said vaporizer by saidcylinder heads to provide chambers, means automatically operable by thesuctionof the engine to admit atmospheric air to one of the chambers andto conduct liquid hydrocarbon fuel to the vaporizer, whereby the air atatmospheric temperature is caused to mix with the volatile constituentsof the liquid hydrocarbon fuel to form an explosive mixture, and anelectric heater arranged within the drum and adjacent the vaporizer forthe ibnitial vaporization of the liquid hydrocar- 8. In a device forvaporizing liquid hydrocarbon fuel and mixing it with atmospheric air, avaporizer adapted to beheated by the exhaust gases of the engine, meansof maintaining a cylinder and a drum in concentric relation to thevaporizer to provide chambers, means to automatically supply liquidhydrocarbon fuel to the vaporizer within the drum and to admit air atatmospheric temperature to the cylinder beyond the drum to mix with thevolatile constituents of the liquid fuel, said means being operable bythe suction of the engine;

9. n a device for vaporizing liquid hydrocarbon fuel and mixing it withatmosheric air, a vaporizer adapted to be heated y the exhaust gases ofthe engine, means of maintaining a cylinder and adrum in concentricrelation to the vaporizer to provide chambers, means to automaticallysupply liquid hydrocarbon fuel to the vaporlzer and to admit air atatmospheric temperature to mix, with the volatile constituents of theliquid fuel, said means being operable by the suction of the engine, anelectric heater mounted upon the vaporizer, and an auxiliary meansadapted to conduct a supply of liquid hydrocarbon fuel to the heater toprovide a charge of explosive mixture for starting purposes.

10. In a combined vaporizer and mixer for internal combustion engines, avaporizer adapted to be heated by exhaust gases, means for providingchambers around said vaporizer, means for conducting liquid hydrocarbonto the interior of one of said chambers and spraying it upon the vapor-1zer, and means to draw air at atmospheric temperature into the otherchamber for mixmg with the volatile constituents of the va porized fuel;both of the last mentioned means being automatically operated by thesuction of the motor.

11. In a combined vaporizer and mixer for internal combustion engines, avaporizer adapted to be heated by exhaust gases, means for conductingliquid hydrocarbon to the nterior of one of said chambers and spraylngit upon the vaporizer, and means to draw air at atmospheric temperatureinto the other chamber for mixing with the volatile constituents of theva 'mrized fuel; both of the last mentioned means being automaticallyoperated by the suction of the motor, and means in the vaporizer forinterrupting the direct current of the exhaust gases to increase thevaporizing effect thereof.

12. In a combined vaporizer and mixer for internal combustion engines, avaporizer adapted to be heated by exhaust gases, means for conductingliquid hydrocarbon to the interior of one of said chambers and sprayingit upon the vaporizer, means to draw air at atmospheric temperature intothe other chamber for mixing with the volatile constituents of thevaporized fuel; both of the last mentioned means being automaticallyoperated by the suction of the motor, means in the vaporizer forsilencing the noises of the exhaust gases, an electric heater mounted onthe vaporizer normally inoperative to produce heat, means for conducting'hydrocarbon liquid fuel to the heater and means adapted to close thecircuit -to the heater and simultaneously therewith o erate the meansthat permitsthe flow of iquid hydrocarbon fuelto the heater.

13. A device of the character described for internal combustion engines,a vaporizer heated by exhaust gases, means for providing chambers aroundsaid vaporizer, means of conducting hydrocarbon to the interior of oneof said chambers and to the vaporizer and means of supplying air atatmospheric temperature to. the other chamber, both of said lastmentioned means being simultaneously and automatically operated by thesuction of the engine.

14. A device of the character described for internal combustion engines,a vaporizer heated by exhaust gases, means for provid- 'ing chambersaround said vaporizer, means exhaust with??? for conducting hydrocarbonto the interior of one of said chambers and to the vaporizer, means forsupplying air at atmospheric temerature to the other chamber, both ofsaid ast mentioned means 'be' simultaneously and automaticall opera bythe suction of the engine, a eater mounted .on the vaporizer, means ofconducting hydrocarbon fuel thereto operable by hand manipulation, andmeans provided in the interior of the vaporizer tomuflle the sound ofthe exhaust gases and interrupt the direct flow of the gases to increasethe vaporizing effect. 1

16. In a combined vaporizer and mixer for internal combustion engines, avaporizer,-

a drum having imperforate side walls and provided with a top withperforations which permit the escape of the volatile constituents of thevaporized hydrocarbon to mix with air at atmospheric temperature,aicylinder surrounding said drum, meansto' conduct liquid hydrocarbonfuel to the vaporizer,

means for heatin the vaporizer,'means to mix air at atmosp erictemperature with the volatile constituents of liquid hydrocarbon fuel,and auxiliary means for vaporizing hydrocarbon fuel the motor.

tures.

' JACOB WALTER.

HARRY J. BUTTERWORTH. OSCAR J. SIGLER.

preparatory to starting In testimony whereof we aflix our signa-

